25 years ago: Recent election set record for turnout

In addition to electing new city commissioners and filling out the school board, this week's election had set a record in Lawrence. The turnout of 12,861 people had represented 55.53 percent of the city's 23,162 registered voters. Patty Jaimes, who had declined to make a public prediction of the turnout, nevertheless had participated in a "traditional guessing game with her employees," of which she was the winner. Mrs. Jaimes, who had just celebrated her 20th anniversary in the county clerk's office and six years in the office of county clerk, had guessed 12,962 -- just 101 votes over this morning's actual count.

Commissioner David Longhurst had spoken at a ground-breaking ceremony for the Brandon Woods retirement complex this week. The $13.5 million complex at West 15th Street and Inverness Drive, one of the largest development projects in Lawrence history, was to provide residential quarters for up to 240 people.